A proposed glamping site on farmland with views of Roseberry Topping has received the planning go-ahead.

Change of use permission had been sought for the development on land previously used for grazing at High Farm, off the A173 between the Windlebridge roundabout and Newton Under Roseberry.

It will comprise ten portable self-contained ‘shepherd’s huts’ – also described as glamping pods – each with a hot tub and parking, along with a private access road and associated landscaping.

The planning permission was granted by Redcar and Cleveland Council using officer delegated powers and was not considered by council members.

The North York Moors National Park Authority had objected, describing the plans as “harmful ribbon development into the open countryside” and detrimental to the setting of the park.

It also said there was concern about any lighting associated with the huts affecting the park’s dark skies status.

But a planning officer’s report said the glamping site, which will be close to the boundary of the national park, although not within it, was only “limited” development with the shepherds huts being both a rural design and comprising sympathetic materials to fit into the rural surroundings.

A condition was included in the permission granted to control the lighting to ensure it is kept to a minimum.

Planning documents described the huts as wooden timber clad with metal clad roofs and solar panels mounted on top in order to provide renewable electricity, while the structures would include glass windows.

They will accommodate two people and have a bed, bathroom, kitchen and a table.

The report said: “It is granted the site is close to Roseberry Topping and neighbouring hills – the ground levels increase in height to the south of the A173.

“Nevertheless, the summit of Roseberry Topping is approximately one mile from the application site. 

“From the summit there are wide ranging views across Teesside and North Yorkshire.

“It is considered due to the limited scale of the development, the use of sympathetic materials and distance between the two elements, the development will not create an incongruous feature in the landscape.”

It said the majority of the views of the site from nearby public rights of way and the A173 would be shielded due in part to existing and proposed landscaping.

The proposed holiday use and associated shepherd huts would also be a sufficient distance away from neighbouring occupiers not to significantly impact their amenity in terms of overlooking and being overbearing.

The council’s development engineers were also approving of the plans after assessing potential highway safety impacts.

The report said they would bring investment and provide a tourist facility and were in accordance with various relevant sections of local planning policy.

The Environment Agency in its response said any waste water from the hot tubs should be free of chemicals and allowed to cool and any discharge should be to vegetated land away from surface water streams and rivers.

A previously submitted supporting statement from the applicant said the site would provide luxury accommodation with glamping a “great way of experiencing the beautiful sights England has to offer”.

It said: “The Pinchinthorpe area is an ideal location for a glamping site with a multitude of tourist hotspots on its doorstep as well as local businesses and amenities nearby including Roseberry Topping and the North Yorkshire Moors, Guisborough Forest and Visitors Centre, Great Ayton village, local pubs, Guisborough Town and the North Yorkshire coastline. 

“It is observed that there is a need for overnight accommodation due to the high number of tourists that visit this area and the relative lack of local accommodation.”

Several applications have been received and approved by the local planning authority in Redcar and Cleveland in recent years where agricultural land owners are seeking to diversify into the leisure sector by offering holiday let accommodation and facilities for visitors seeking to stay in the area.